Putin’s Young Military Recruits? Russian Children Train With Rifles For War |Firstpost America| N18G
Published on: Sept. 1, 2025, 6:03 p.m. | Source: Firstpost
In a move highlighting Russia's growing focus on militarising its youth, children as young as eight have been trained in combat-style exercises at a summer camp in the Rostov region, close to the Ukrainian border. The camp, which hosted 83 children aged between 8 and 17, is reportedly part of an initiative aimed at preparing youngsters for future military service. Participants were taught how to throw hand grenades, handle rifles and march in simulated combat scenarios. Supervised by Russian soldiers with frontline experience in Ukraine, the camp included a "route march" along the River Don, which saw children crawl on sand and wade through shallow waters while carrying weapons - some real, some replicas. The programme is seen as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader push to instill military values among the nation’s youth.
